Aglaonema plant named &#39;twyag0031&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Aglaonema  plant particularly distinguished by having foliage that is dark green and abundantly marked with pale pink spots and coalescing blotches, primary veins that are white and flushed with pale pink, midribs that are white and variably tinged with pale pink, a short, densely leafy, compact and mounded plant habit and yellow-green spathes spotted with white, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Aglaonema hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘TWYAG0031’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the variety name as ‘TWYAG0031’. The new variety originated from an open pollination made in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia between unknown individual plants of Aglaonema (species unknown). The new variety was discovered as a single plant within the progeny of the stated open pollination in a controlled environment in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.

The new variety was created in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture in Apopka, Fla. for two or more generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Apopka, Fla.

1. Foliage is dark green and abundantly marked with pale pink spots and coalescing blotches;

2. The primary veins are white and flushed with pale pink;

3. The midrib is white and variably tinged with pale pink;

4. A short, densely leafy, compact and mounded plant habit; and

5. Yellow-green spathes spotted with white.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Aglaonema plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the overall plant habit. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a 12-month old plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘TWYAG0031’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Apopka, Fla. The plant history was taken on 12 month-old plants started from a single four-leaf rooted cutting, still in a vegetative state and grown in Apopka, Fla. Rooted cuttings were planted in 20 cm pots and grown in a greenhouse in February 2007. The plants were pinched twice. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references are primarily to the RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (RHS) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Araceae.         -   Botanical.—Aglaonema hybrida.         -   Common.—Chinese Evergreen. -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Short, compact, dense and a mounded shape; wider than             tall.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Small in stature, densely leafy             and compact; new leaves emerge straight and upright and             mature leaves lean outward.         -   Height (from soil to top of leaf plane).—18 cm to 21 cm.         -   Diameter (area of spread, as measured from leaf tip to leaf             tip across the Canopy).—35 cm to 40 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Typical of commercial Aglaonema varieties.         -   Vigor.—Plants produce axillary branches and numerous leaves;             consistent progressive growth.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 12 months             starting from a single 4-leaf rooted cutting with the plants             pinched twice in 15 cm to 20 cm pots.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy and white with finer lateral             branches.         -   Number of divisions or clumps per year.—About eight 4-leaf             cuttings per Year.         -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Foliage holds up well             against damage from shipping and handling; plants are             durable and have excellent indoor keeping quality.         -   High temperature tolerance.—About 104° F. for several hours             without Damage.         -   Low temperature tolerance.—About 55° F. for several hours             without Damage. -   Stems:     -   -   Number of branches per plant.—About 25.         -   Type of branching.—Basal.         -   Length (from soil line to junction of the newest two             leaves).—5 cm to 8 cm.         -   Diameter (measured from the midpoint).—0.75 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.45 cm to 0.7 cm.         -   Color.—Immature: Between RHS 144B to RHS 144C and tinged             with RHS 146C Mature: RHS 146B tinged with RHS 151C Oldest             stems: Between RHS 147A to RHS 147B.         -   Shape and appearance.—Columnar, cylindrical and upright.         -   Aspect.—Vertical, upright or leaning outward about 30             degrees to 40 degrees; the apex of the stem is often turned             up.         -   Strength.—Sturdy and somewhat flexible.         -   Axillary buds.—Shape: Elliptic to ovate, flat to convex             Length: 0.22 cm Width: 0.12 cm Color: RHS 145C. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate and simple; the leaves are oriented             opposite along the stem; the leaf blade folds upward along             the midrib.         -   Quantity of leaves per stem.—9.         -   Immature leaf (newly expanded leaf).—Color: Upper surface:             Base color is darker and greener than but closest to RHS             147A and marked with colors between RHS 56A to RHS 56B spots             and coalescing blotches Lower surface: Base color is RHS             147B and tinged with RHS 55C; the upper surface patterns and             markings are visible through to the lower surface of the             leaf; the leaf blade is marked with RHS 55C spots and             coalescing blotches Mature leaf: Color: Upper surface: Base             color is darker than but closest to RHS 147A and marked with             RHS 56B to RHS 56D spots and coalescing blotches Lower             surface: Base color is between RHS 147A to RHS 147B and             tinged with RHS 55C; the upper surface patterns and markings             are visible through to the lower surface of the leaf; the             leaf blade is marked with spots and coalescing blotches             between RHS 55C to RHS 56A.         -   Length.—8.3 cm to 10.4 cm.         -   Width.—Flattened: 7.0 cm to 10.5 cm Not flattened: 6.8 cm to             9.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Round to broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to slightly cordate.         -   Margin.—Smooth and entire with some broad undulations.         -   Appearance (both surfaces).—Smooth and leathery; new leaves             are shiny and mature leaves are glossy to dull; the leaf             blade is convex between the main veins and somewhat puckered             along the midrib resulting in a textured appearance.         -   Pubescence (both surfaces).—Absent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Immature leaf (newly expanded leaf): Upper             surface: Primary veins: RHS 155C and tinged with RHS 56C             Midrib: RHS 155C and tinged with RHS 56C Lower surface:             Primary veins: RHS 145D and tinged with RHS 56A Midrib: the             proximal end is between RHS 147B to RHS 146B and tinged with             RHS 145D and the distal end is RHS 155C and tinged with RHS             56D Mature leaf: Upper surface: Primary veins: RHS 155C and             tinged with RHS 56B Midrib: the proximal end is RHS 192D and             the distal end is RHS 56B Lower surface: Primary veins: RHS             145D and tinged with RHS 56B Midrib: the proximal end is             between RHS 147C to RHS 146B and the distal end is RHS 155C. -   Petioles:     -   -   Aspect.—Vertical and upright when newly expanded and             becoming curved outward to about 30 degrees with maturity.         -   Length.—5.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—Distal: 0.25 cm Proximal (petiole and petiole             sheath clasps the stem proximally): Flattened: 2.7 cm Not             flattened: 0.60 cm Depth: 0.75 cm.         -   Color.—Distal (between the top of the wing and the base of             the leaf): the distal end is between RHS 147A to RHS 147B             Proximal: RHS 147B and tinged with RHS 146C Areas adjacent             to the stem: Between RHS 158D to RHS 145D.         -   Wing.—Length: 2.4 cm to 3.8 cm Diameter: Mid-point: 0.6 cm             Base: 0.75 cm Depth: 0.6 cm Color: Inside: RHS 155D and             tinged with RHS 148D Outside: RHS 147A and tinged with RHS             146C, the margin is tinged with RHS 49B Area adjacent to the             stem: Between RHS 158D to RHS 145D.         -   Cataphylls.—Length: 3.5 cm to 4.7 cm Width: 1.6 cm Shape:             Lanceolate, keeled and translucent Apex: Cuspidate Base:             Clasps the stem Color: Inside: The distal end is between RHS             148D to RHS 147C and the proximal end is RHS 148D with the             center being tinged with RHS 49B Outside: The distal end is             between RHS 147B to RHS 146B and the proximal end is between             RHS 147C to RHS 147D and the keel is tinged with RHS 49B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Appearance.—Hooded spathes surrounding a columnar spadix are             borne atop an upright peduncle; monoecious; the spadix is a             central column of sessile, simple male and female flowers             separated into two zones; the male flowers occupy the upper             three-fourths of the spadix while the female flowers occupy             the lower one-fourth of the spadix.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per stem.—About 1.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—About 9.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Height (from base of peduncle to tip of spathe).—8.3 cm.         -   Diameter/width.—1.2 cm.         -   Flowering habit.—Seasonal; the natural flowering season is             fall to winter as observed in Apopka, Fla.; the flowers are             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Ratio of inflorescence to opening.—About 1 new flower every             21 days.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 7.5 cm Diameter: 0.25 cm Aspect: Upright             Strength: Sturdy and flexible Color: RHS 147A to RHS 147B. -   Spathe:     -   -   Appearance.—Simple, hooded, cupped and enclosing the spadix;             both surfaces are smooth and shiny.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Pubescence (both inner and outer surfaces).—Absent.         -   Size.—Length: 3.7 cm Width: 1.2 cm (not flattened).         -   Color (when opening).—Front side: RHS 147C Rear side:             Between RHS 146B to RHS 146C and spotted with RHS 145D.         -   Color (fully opened).—Front side: Between RHS 147C to RHS             147D Rear side: Between RHS 147A to RHS 147B, RHS 146B and             spotted with RHS 155B.         -   Color (fading to).—RHS 200B. -   Spadix:     -   -   Appearance and shape.—Columnar.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Size.—Length: 2.2 cm Diameter of the female zone: 0.6 cm             Diameter of the male zone: 0.8 cm Length of the female zone:             0.3 cm Length of the male zone: 1.9 cm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Pebbled.         -   Color.—Female zone (immature): RHS 8C Male zone (immature):             RHS 11D Female zone (mature): RHS 10C Male zone (mature):             RHS 8D. -   Flowers:     -   -   Type.—Simple.         -   Quantity of female flowers per spadix.—10.         -   Quantity of male flowers per spadix.—180.         -   Shape of female.—Elliptic.         -   Shape of male.—Obovate, inverted triangle.         -   Size.—Female width: 0.1 cm Male width: 0.1 cm Female height             and depth: 0.2 cm Male height and depth: 0.2 cm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Anther color.—RHS 8D.         -   Pollen amount.—Not observed.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 10C.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 145D. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: Typical of Aglaonema species; no     particular susceptibility or resistance to pests or diseases noted.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN VARIETIES

‘TWYAG0031’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Key Largo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,550) in that ‘TWYAG0031’ has foliage with pale pink spots and blotches with round to broadly ovate leaves, while ‘Key Largo’ has foliage with silver flecks and spots and oblong leaves.

‘TWYAG0031’ differs from the commercial variety ‘TWYAG0003’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,673) in that ‘TYWAG0031’ has yellow-green petioles, while ‘TWYAG0003’ has pink petioles. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant as shown and described herein. 